If there’s one day of the year where people are feeling generous, it’s after they’ve spent a day gorging on food, counting their blessings, and waiting to megashop. Black Friday is a HUGE window of opportunity to absolutely smash it on fundraising. And since the average Black Friday shopper shells out $423, they won’t mind spending a little extra on something even more important than toys and electronics: #zeroLRA. These fundraisers work best with a big group of passionate, enthusiastic individuals, so grab your friends, make some signs, and hit up the crowds.
1) Gift Wrapping
Black Friday shoppers are there to get a jump on their Christmas shopping, so you might as well finish the job by setting up a gift wrapping table. You can buy wrapping paper, ribbon, and gift bags at a local dollar store, and then charge per size of the package.
2) Holiday carols & song grams
There’s a possibility (guarantee) of people being cranky while they are cold and crowded waiting in line all night. You gotta get out there spreading that Christmas cheer (or Hanukkah cheer, since the first night of Hanukkah also happens to be Thanksgiving day.) Sing songs and carols and ask for donations in return.
3) Sell coffee & donuts
Give the people what they want, and what they want is coffee & donuts. Always. But especially when they’ve been waiting outside in line for like, a thousand hours. And since people don’t want to lose their spot, you can make an absolute fortune by selling goodies up and down the line.
4) Hold a spot in line
At some point in the Black Friday madness, someone is going to need to run to their car. Or chase after a runaway child. Or attend to the call of nature. That’s where you come in as a personal placeholder in the mile-long line — for a price, of course.
5) Shuttle service
For those of you that are of legal driving age and feel comfortable chatting with strangers, use your car as a shuttle service to transport weary shoppers to their cars (because chances are, they had to park VERY far away). Borrow your family’s mom van (with permission, of course) and transform yourself into a chauffeur extraordinaire.
Extra points if you wear a jaunty little hat like his.
6) Massages
If you’re one of those people that doesn’t seem to have a personal space bubble, this fundraiser is perfect. Charge for massages and make everyone in line your new best friend.
7) Making Starbucks/food runs
This fundraiser is a serious money-maker. Make signs and walk up and down the line offering to make personal coffee & food runs from the restaurant of their choice, charging a steeper price than usual to account for the cost of the item + gas (ie. a latte from the nearest Starbucks might cost $10). It sounds expensive, but when people are cold, hungry, and landlocked to their square-inch of concrete, they will pay for just about anything. Most shoppers are going to be camped out at the mall, so take advantage of the food court (if it’s open) or places within walking distance so you don’t have to deal with parking.
Even Harry Styles fundraises on Black Friday. #obviously
8) Babysitting
If you’re hoping to avoid the Black Friday madness altogether, offer to babysit for #zeroLRA donations so the parents can go shopping. This will probably be the easiest babysitting you will ever do since the kiddos will likely be asleep when their parents want to be in line. Spread the word to your neighbors, church, and family (hey, I’m sure you can talk to someone at Thanksgiving dinner who needs a babysitter).
Tip: Print THIS out and have it ready to help you explain why you’re fundraising for #zeroLRA.
Another tip: Just in case people don’t have cash on them, have a sign or slip of paper with your fundraising page URL on it so people can donate directly to your page.
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